Protesters refuse to let MPs into Georgian parliament building

This morning, in Tbilisi, participants of a protest rally who set up tents at the entrances to the parliament building, allowed parliament staff to enter the building, but promised not to let MPs in.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that starting from November 14, a round-the-clock protest rally is being held in Tbilisi. The protest began after the parliament failed to pass a project to change the electoral system. On November 17, the protesters blocked the country's parliament. Three rallies of opposition forces took place in Tbilisi; however, despite similar demands on the authorities, participants of the rallies did not unite.

Several dozen protesters, including opposition leaders and opposition MPs, spent all night in the tents in front of the parliament building, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported with reference to a report on the air of the "First Channel" Georgian TV Channel.

Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the "New Georgia" Party, explained that the protesters allowed only parliament staff into the building, but they intended not to let the MPs in. "I urge all members of the parliament to refrain from entering the parliament building in order to avoid unnecessary excesses. As for cleaners, policemen, and staff, they can enter the parliament building. The matter is that the MPs annoy the public so much that it is better for them not to enter the parliament building," said Giorgi Vashadze as quoted by the "First Channel" Georgian TV Channel on its website.

The picketing of entries to the parliament building is illegal, but the responsibility for that form of protest lies with those MPs who failed to support the constitutional amendments on the transition to a proportional electoral system from 2020, Georgian Ombudsperson Nino Lomdjariya has said today.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 18, 2019 at 10:30 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.